Covered separable fastener



Filed March 6, 1937 INVENTOR fla r/5 Mew/waxy I A'TTORNE Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE COVERED SEPARABLE FASTENER- Application March 6, 1937, Serial No. 129,318

2 Claims.

This invention relates to separable fasteners employing stringers having interengaging coupling links or scoops composed of plastic or thermoplastic material and arranged longitudinally thereof and adapted to be coupled and uncoupled in the operation of closing and opening the fastener; and the object of the invention is to provide the stringers of fasteners of the class described with cover strips or tapes which conceal the links at one or both sides of a stringer when coupled together so as to provide a neat and finished appearance as well as a protection or shield between the links of the stringers and an adjacent surface; a further object being to provide a simple as well as neat and finished method of attaching cover tapes or strips of the character described to the stringers or the links thereof and to avoid the necessity of using stitchings or other securing means as heretofore employed, thereby simplifying and economizing the production of covered stringers of the kind under consideration as well as enhancing the appearance thereof; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, efiicient in use and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a face View of a part of a fastener made according to my invention with parts of the construction broken away.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1: and,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modification.

In the drawing, I have shown at 5 and 6 the conventional stringer tapes of separable fasteners of the kind under consideration, one longitudinal edge of each tape being preferably enlarged or beaded as seen at l and 8 respectively. Coupling links or scoops 9 and ill are secured to these edges at equally spaced intervals, and in the construction shown, these links or scoops are in the form of plastic, thermoplastic or other materials, or, in other words, are made from various types of plastic compositions. In this connection, it will be understood that cellulose compositions or such materials as cellulose acetate can be employed. In some instances, these links or scoops may be pre-formed and then glued or otherwise attached to the beaded edges land 8 of the stringers, or in the case of such materials as cellulose acetate, may be die cast directly thereon.

At II and I2, I have shown cover strips or tapes which are attached to the stringers 5 and 6 as well as to the links 8 and 9 secured thereto. These cover tapes H and 12 are secured to the links 9 and I0, and the stringers 5 and 6, by a suitable adhesive as indicated at l3 in Fig. 2 of the drawing and represented by the stippling l3 in Fig. 1 of the drawing. While this stippling extends to the full width of the tapes M and i2, this is not absolutely essential, the important feature being that the tapes III and I2 be attached to that part of the links 9 and Iii which the tapes overlie as well as the beaded edges l and 8 thereof and the stringers 5 and 6 adjacent the beaded edges so as to leave the outer ends of the links projecting beyond the outer edges of the tapes as indicated at 9a in Fig. 1 of the drawing. With this construction, the adjacent edges of the tapes ii and i2 will be brought together when the stringers are attached to abut or substantially abut as indicated at i l in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

Various types of adhesives may be employed, depending entirely upon the type of material used in the formation of the links in order to establish a secure mounting of the cover tapes H and I2 on said links. In using cellulose acetate links, acetone or a similar material may be used as the adhesive agent and the cover tapes may be applied and secured in position in the presence of slight pressure in order to insure firm contact of the tape with the links as well as the surrounding structure of the stringer tape, and especially that part of the tape inwardly of the inner ends of the links. The tapes Ill and i2 are also preferably secured to the stringers 5 and 6 by a line of stitching l5, l6, extending therethrough as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. However, in some forms of construction this stitching may be dispensed with.

Each stringer is independently formed with its cover tape applied thereto, and the conventional end stops are provided at the ends of the stringers and the usual slider is arranged thereon to couple and uncouple the stringers, but as these other features are well known in the art, they are not shown and described. In forming stringers of the kind under consideration, and what is known as covered or concealed stringer tapes, it has been customary to provide stitchings or the like in close proximity to the links and intermediate the links to support the cover tapes in abutting relation to the outer surfaces of the links in order to provide a neat and finished appearance. Other special forms of tapes have been provided to accomplish this same result. With my present invention, the objection-able features to the present methods of procedure are overcome in a simple gluing operation which, in addition to materially reducing the cost of production, also produces an article of neater and more finished appearance.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, I have shown a slight modification wherein supplemental cover tapes Ila, I2a, similar to the tapes II and I2 are disposed on the inner surfaces of the stringers and so that the links of the fastener are protected or insulated from an adjacent surface, especially in the use of devices of this kind upon the body of a wearer. The strips II a, I2a are secured to the links and stringers by a suitable adhesive as at I3a in the same manner as the tapes II and I2 are secured in position. The one line of stitching at I5, I6 will pass through both tapes II, IIa, I2, I2a if such stitchings are employed. The cover strips or tapes I I, I2, I la, I2a are thinner than the stringer tapes 5 and 6, and may, in fact, be composed of a different kind of material, not only as to texture but also as to color, the color being made to suit the garment or article in connection with which the fastener is used, whereas the stringer tapes 5 and 6 may be of a common base color.

In some cases, the cover strips or strands II and I2 may be of less width than that shown in the accompanying drawing and simply cover the links of the stringers and not extend to any appreciable degree onto the stringer tapes 5 and 6 inwardly of the links. This is especially true when the stitchings as at I5 and I6 are dispensed with.

In addition to forming a cover for the links or scoops, the strips or tapes II and I2 also provide means for reinforcing the attaching of the links or scoops to the stringer tapes 5 and 6 as well as to reinforce said tapes adjacent the links. It is also preferred that the strips II and I2 be cut on the bias so as to provide the desired flexibility between the links in the operation of coupling and uncoupling the stringers as in other devices of this kind.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A stringer for fastener devices of the class described comprising a mounting tape, a plurality of plastic coupling elements attached to and spaced longitudinally of one side edge of said tape and projecting beyond said edge, a supplemental strip independent of 'and arranged longitudinally of the mounting tape and over the elements thereon and over a portion of the elements projecting beyond the outer side edge of said strip, and means for securing said supplemental strip to the coupling link portions of the stringer, said securing means comprising a cement applied to the outer faces only of said successive coupling link elements.

2. A stringer for fastening devices of the class described comprising a mounting tape, a plurality of plastic coupling elements attached to and spaced longitudinally of one side edge ofsaid tape and projecting beyond said edge, a supplemental strip independent of and arranged longitudinally of the mounting tape and over the elements thereon and over a portion of the elements projecting beyond the outer side edge of said strip, and means for securing said supplemental strip to the coupling link portions of the stringer, said securing means comprising a cement applied to the outer faces only of said successive coupling link elements, said supplemental strip being cut on the bias to provide relative movement between the elements joined thereby outwardly of said mounting tape, and the inner side edge portion of said supplemental strip extending onto the mounting tape and being secured thereto by a line of stitching arranged adjacent said elements.

DAVIS MARINSKY. 

